Offseason rumors/discussion thread

[chibears55]

That's not how these trades work. San Diego wouldn't trade for MORE people on the 40 man of which russell would be with prospects. The way these things play out is the team with an over abundance of guys(SD) trades them for low level talent who isn't rule 5 eligible. I suppose if you really wanted to make a stretch you could suggest this is consolidating multiple 40 man players into one with Russell but that doesn't make much sense either because quite frankly russell probably isn't worth multiple MLB quality players given his current suspension.

Russell doesn't qualify for a 40 man spot now because of the suspension

 

[TC in Mississippi]

New Mets GM said that he would have to get blown away. If it was Myers and Tatis then I would listen. Myers needs to go back to 1B after last year’s injuries

The rumor was Tatis and Mejia plus another prospect. That's a fair deal. I also think it sounds like speculation but we'll see.

 

[beckdawg]

Russell doesn't qualify for a 40 man spot now because of the suspension

I'm like 90% sure this is wrong. But either way it's a moot point because he's going to be on their 40 man in May and that just pushes off the problem. It doesn't solve anything. That means you're just having to waive or trade someone in May rather than now which is arguably a harder time to make that decision.

 

[chibears55]

I'm like 90% sure this is wrong. But either way it's a moot point because he's going to be on their 40 man in May and that just pushes off the problem. It doesn't solve anything. That means you're just having to waive or trade someone in May rather than now which is arguably a harder time to make that decision.

They need to protect guys now on 40 man for rule 5, they dont need too in may...
Anyhow it was just something I threw out there, didnt really need to get over analyzed

 

[chibears55]

Cubs will be looking for new pitching coach as Hickey quit for personal reasons

 

[zack54attack]

Cubs will be looking for new pitching coach as Hickey quit for personal reasons

I don't buy the "personal reasons"

 

[beckdawg]

They need to protect guys now on 40 man for rule 5, they dont need too in may...

You're missing the point. You protect the players by putting them on the 40 man. But if you're acquiring Russell that just means in May you're going to have to waive one of those players and subject them to essentially the same thing. If someone is good enough to protect then they are going to get claimed when you waive them in May to bring Russell back. In fact, it's actually better for a team wanting one of these guys because if they are waived and claimed the acquiring team can option them to AAA. The issue with the Rule 5 draft is if you take someone they have to stay on your 25 man roster or they get sent back to their original team. Literally the only way this is beneficial is if one of the guys on your 40 man gets hurt bad enough to move to the 60 day DL by may. But again that's just kicking the can down the road.

 

[chibears55]

I don't buy the "personal reasons"

Me neither, unless there something we dont know yet..

 

[beckdawg]

Tony Andracki
✔
@TonyAndracki23
Cubs trade for Padres RHP Rowan Wick in exchange for IF Jason Vosler.

Wick, 26, has been placed on the 40-man roster.

as i said a non rule 5 eligible prospect.

 

[zack54attack]

Cubs acquire Rowan Wick from Padres

https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1065032354446626816

 

[chibears55]

as i said a non rule 5 eligible prospect.

You wanna cookie
[emoji23]

 

[beckdawg]

Don't know a ton on Wick but he looks like a pretty typical reliever with decent stuff and maybe some control issues. Was really good in AAA last year.

 

[chibears55]

Padres look to be more interested in Segura then Russell

https://twitter.com/BleacherNation/status/1065018917167480834?s=19

 

[El_Mago84]

I agree with a lot of people that the Cubs need more contact and OBP type hitters. Therefore, what if we traded Ian Happ and a prospect to the Royals for Whit Merrifield? He would solidify the 2B position and would retain versatility as well. He is a good leadoff hitter and is in arbitration until 2022. We also needed pitching like no other and need to do something bold to get it. I know it sounds crazy but what if we sent Bryant to the NYM for Noah? Than in the short term you could use Bote there or make a trade to Detroit for Castellanos. Arenado is a upcoming free agent and than we could go all in on him as well. I think Merrifield would be a great trade to get some affordable production from the leadoff position and the Bryant trade is just thinking outside the box and thinking bold.

 

[beckdawg]

We also needed pitching like no other and need to do something bold to get it. I know it sounds crazy but what if we sent Bryant to the NYM for Noah?

You realize the cubs were second in starter ERA in the NL last year right? They had a 3.65 ERA with LA being the best NL starting staff at 3.40. And that's without Darvish pitching like he can and also with only a half season of Hamels.

As for Merrifield, I don't want him frankly. He's going to be 30 to start next season with his second best season coming as a 28 year old in 2017 where he hit .288/.324/.460 for a 105 wRC+. To put that into perspective, I know a lot of cubs fans who are over Heyward. Heyward hit .270/.335/.395 for a 99 wRC+ and heyward is only 29. If you know anything about age curves this is almost certainly Merrifield's peak and odds are high he quickly starts becoming worse.

I get why people think this but honestly I think I'd rather just give the guys the cubs have internally a shot vs paying a premium for another hitter. I mean it's one thing if you're adding a Harper/Machado like bat. If you want to do that ok. I think there's maybe a debate to be had on the financials of it all but clearly they are impact bats. Buying high on a 30 year old guy who had a career year seems like bad logic to me.

If you simply have to have a lead off hitter I honestly think some sort of bad contract swap for Fowler is more appealing to me. He hit .264/.363/.488 in 2017 which is a better OPS than Merrifield in 2018 by roughly 45 points. Clearly 2018 was a disaster for him which is the reason he's likely available. But just as a hypothetical example here, if you could swap him for Kintzler's $5 mil in 2018 and Chatwoods $25.5 mil over the next 2 you'd basically be saving roughly $1 mil toward 2019's luxury tax but eating roughly $19 mil more over the final two years. I'd imagine you might be able to get some cash as well. Doing that also sort of solves the issue the cubs have in that they are pretty tight in 2019 in terms of the luxury tax but they have a lot of money coming off the books after 2019. And what with Zobrist likely departing, having Fowler around as a vet influence isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[chibears55]

Marlins DFA Derick Dietrich

Hed be a nice pickup for the cubs

 

[CSF77]

Marlins DFA Derick Dietrich

Hed be a nice pickup for the cubs

pass He has gotten worse and more expensive. Guys get the DFA for a reason.

 

[CSF77]

You realize the cubs were second in starter ERA in the NL last year right? They had a 3.65 ERA with LA being the best NL starting staff at 3.40. And that's without Darvish pitching like he can and also with only a half season of Hamels.

As for Merrifield, I don't want him frankly. He's going to be 30 to start next season with his second best season coming as a 28 year old in 2017 where he hit .288/.324/.460 for a 105 wRC+. To put that into perspective, I know a lot of cubs fans who are over Heyward. Heyward hit .270/.335/.395 for a 99 wRC+ and heyward is only 29. If you know anything about age curves this is almost certainly Merrifield's peak and odds are high he quickly starts becoming worse.

I get why people think this but honestly I think I'd rather just give the guys the cubs have internally a shot vs paying a premium for another hitter. I mean it's one thing if you're adding a Harper/Machado like bat. If you want to do that ok. I think there's maybe a debate to be had on the financials of it all but clearly they are impact bats. Buying high on a 30 year old guy who had a career year seems like bad logic to me.

If you simply have to have a lead off hitter I honestly think some sort of bad contract swap for Fowler is more appealing to me. He hit .264/.363/.488 in 2017 which is a better OPS than Merrifield in 2018 by roughly 45 points. Clearly 2018 was a disaster for him which is the reason he's likely available. But just as a hypothetical example here, if you could swap him for Kintzler's $5 mil in 2018 and Chatwoods $25.5 mil over the next 2 you'd basically be saving roughly $1 mil toward 2019's luxury tax but eating roughly $19 mil more over the final two years. I'd imagine you might be able to get some cash as well. Doing that also sort of solves the issue the cubs have in that they are pretty tight in 2019 in terms of the luxury tax but they have a lot of money coming off the books after 2019. And what with Zobrist likely departing, having Fowler around as a vet influence isn't the worst thing in the world.

I do get this logic. I felt this was the case with Jake. He peaked late and had basically a 2 year window of peak performance then fell back to earth. Philly is over paying on a decline.

 

[CSF77]

Lefty Justin Steele is now a member of the Cubs’ 40-man, per an announcement.

That part is good. I am honestly not a fan of leaving Clifton open and taking on Ian Clarkin. He is just not that good and Clifton is a much better prospect.

 

[CSF77]

Cubs Roster Info:
Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

+++++++++++

39 players are on MLB RESERVE LIST (one sloy is open), plus two players are on the RESTRICTED LIST

Last updated 11-20-2018

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 25
Adbert Alzolay
Tyler Chatwood
Steve Cishek
* Ian Clarkin
Yu Darvish
* Brian Duensing
Carl Edwards Jr
* Cole Hamels
Justin Hancock
Kyle Hendricks
Brandon Kintzler
* Jon Lester
Dillon Maples
Alec Mills
* Mike Montgomery
Brandon Morrow
James Norwood
* Jose Quintana
* Randy Rosario
* Justin Steele
Pedro Strop
Jen-Ho Tseng
Duane Underwood Jr
Allen Webster
Rowan Wick

CATCHERS: 3
# Victor Caratini
Willson Contreras
Taylor Davis

INFIELDERS: 6
Javy Baez
Kris Bryant
David Bote
* Tommy LaStella
* Anthony Rizzo
# Ben Zobrist

OUTFIELDERS: 5
Albert Almora Jr
# Ian Happ
* Jason Heyward
* Kyle Schwarber
Mark Zagunis

RESTRICTED LIST: 2
Oscar de la Cruz, P
Addison Russell, INF